A Uganda gorilla safari leads you to Bwindi Forest National Park in Southwest of the country, a home to more than half of the global population of the endangered mountain gorillas. Tracking mountain gorillas is the main tourist activity in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (BIMP). Gorilla tracking was first established in the park in 1993 at park headquarters at Buhoma, however, today there are several trailheads which host separate gorilla safaris in the park. These include Ruhija, Nkuringo, Buhoma and Rushaga.
Today there are 15 habituated gorilla families that can be tracked in Bwindi, an experience described by many past trackers as the best wildlife encounter in the world. Gorilla safaris are one of the major wildlife highlights of African travel.
No one can fully describe the exhilaration attached to the experience of first setting eyes straight into those of a mountain gorilla. Gorillas are awesome, bulky up to three times of the average man though the shaggily luxuriant coat also adds to their size. Surprisingly gorillas are remarkably peaceful despite their fearsome look.
In fact, tracking mountain gorillas would be considered such a dangerous activity had they possessed the aggressive temperament of the little vervet monkey, baboon or even a human being.
The hard bought gorilla permit ($600 each) allows you to spend one magical hour with the gorillas that can never be erased from your memory. There are two categories of gorilla permits sold at Bwindi. One is the gorilla tracking permit sold at $600 per person that allows you to track gorillas for one hour. The second category is of gorilla habituation permit that is a bit pricey at $1,500 but more rewarding than the former. With the habituation permit, you are taken to take part in the habituation process of a gorillas, a process that is aimed at making gorillas used to people and it lasts for four hours each day.
Note that the above fees include park entry and guiding but not a porter in case you use one.
There are several accommodation facilities around the park to compliment your gorilla safari in Bwindi. The lodges around the park range from budget to luxury, tented camps are also available. All the four sectors where tracking is done have got accommodation around them, it is your choice to pick the category that suits your budget.
Planning your gorilla tracking safari as an independent traveler can be a bit challenging, you don’t need to go through all that hustle. There are several credible tour operators that can help organize for you a memorable gorilla safari this trip for you so that just wait to enjoy your experience without any worries. The operator will help you to make all the necessary arrangements including buying your gorilla tracking permit, booking for your accommodation with meals and arranging your transport.
One major advantage of planning your gorilla trekking trip with a local agent is that gorilla permits are always scarce on the market and they need to be booked in advance. Therefore, the agent will do everything possible to ensure that such permits are obtained once they receive your order.
Unlike in the past when tracking gorillas was limited to only one sector in Bwindi, the introduction of three more tracking sectors in Ruhija, Nkuringo and Rushaga has made securing a permit a bit easier.
In addition to Bwindi, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park at the border with Rwanda is Uganda’s other gorilla safari destination. Mgahinga is known to have one gorilla family, “Nyakagezi” and a lot of golden monkeys. Permits to Mgahinga can be bought from the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) office at Kisoro.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is also a unique birding destination with over 23 Albertine Rift Endemics found in her thick forests. Other primates in the park include the black-and-white colobus and L’Hoest monkeys that can be seen during a forest walk. A cultural tour around the park leads you to the Batwa Pygmies who were evicted from the forest after gazetting the area for tourism. The group has amazing cultural activities including their traditional folk songs to crown your gorilla safari experience in style.
